Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy最新文献

{"title":"The power of people who use drugs as mass media influencers in changing public opinion during the global overdose epidemic.","authors":"Ehsan Jozaghi","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00709-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00709-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Thousands of people have lost their lives due to overdose-related fatalities linked to the potent synthetic opioid epidemic, as mortalities increase annually. British Columbia (B.C.) Canada has been an exception, where the population not only has more liberal views on illegal drugs, but overdose death numbers have reduced for the first time in recent months. The reduction of overdose deaths in BC and liberal views have taken place in conjunction with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users’ (VANDU) advocacy growth over the past two decades. METHODS: The Canadian Newsstream database, which contains news media coverage, was utilized to examine VANDU’s news coverage and impact in 2023. VANDU’s mass media impact is determined qualitatively. NVivo 14 facilitated coding 97 articles in 2023, out of 1,596 total news articles since 1997. RESULTS: After analyzing 97 articles from 42 blogs, 33 newspapers, 21 wire feeds, and one other source, five themes were identified. These themes included (1) policy engagement, (2) Government lobbying, (3) Advocacy, (4) Unsanctioned work, and (5) Demonstration. CONCLUSION: With the rise of pseudoscience and anti-harm reduction rhetoric across the globe, this research has shown that partnering and funding drug user advocacy groups is the most critical way to fight the overdose epidemic because the advocacy can change public opinion and therefore government policy that needlessly contributes to preventable deaths. </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12983675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146195885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping the subjective importance of the topic 'parenthood' for parents with substance use disorder in inpatient rehabilitative care - an explorative qualitative study in Germany.","authors":"Ananda Stullich, Jan Gehrmann, Johannes Stephan, Jana Dehner, Matthias Richter, Laura Hoffmann","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00707-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00707-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: In Germany, about 3 million children live with at least one parent with substance use disorder (SUD). Those parents face multiple challenges in daily life that concurrently affect their children. The inpatient stay of parents with SUD is seen as a possibility for an intervention (Kontext-Sucht-Intervention), centering on parents’ requests. Therefore, this study focuses on the importance of the topic of parenthood and parents’ perceived needs in inpatient rehabilitative care in Germany. METHODS: We conducted 37 semi-structured interviews with parents with SUD between March and September 2023 in seven inpatient rehabilitative clinics in Germany. Two clinics carried out the Kontext-Sucht Intervention, and we recruited five clinics without structured interventions on parenting to contrastingly explore the needs and derive the meaning of the topic from the parent’s perspective. We analysed the interviews using content-structured qualitative content analysis. RESULT: The results show that the topic parenthood is important to parents in inpatient rehabilitative treatment, as they recognise the influence of their disease on the upbringing of their children. Parents identify a gap in the support system, wish for a positive future for their children, and therefore address several parenting-related topics for treatment: e.g., setting boundaries, integration of accompanying children, partnership, single parenting, siblings, and reduction of exhaustion resulting from parenting tasks. They also citicise the lack of specific, structured therapeutic interventions for parents. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that there is a need for a parenting-focused intervention in inpatient rehabilitation, which should be provided by the rehabilitation system. The results are in line with general findings on families and substance use disorder purposes in SUD care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS00030950, (Registration Date 25.01.2023). </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12977838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reimagining recovery: a commentary centering youth and caregiver voices on substance use recovery and healing from across British Columbia, Canada.","authors":"Cameron R Eekhoudt, Kathryn Jean Henry, Drew Friesen, Kirsten Marchand, Skye Barbic, Roxanne Turuba, Eva Moore, Martha J Ignaszewski, Matthew Carwana, Danya Fast","doi":"10.1186/s13011-025-00688-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-025-00688-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Internationally, substance use recovery and healing is increasingly the focus of health and public policy and practice. Yet, what constitutes recovery and healing, and how it is understood and enacted among young people who use(d) drugs (YPWUD) has been largely underexplored. This commentary argues for a re-imagining of substance use recovery and healing by centering the understandings and lived experiences of YPWUD and their caregivers. METHODS: We draw on insights from a needs assessment conducted using qualitative methods with 38 youth (14 to 24 years of age) and 18 caregivers from across the province of British Columbia, Canada, including in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, and Prince George. All activities were undertaken in collaboration with our team’s Youth Health Advisory Council, a group of 9 youth with lived experience of substance use and its various interventional responses. FINDINGS: We discuss key insights from the needs assessment, highlighting the urgent need for more nimble approaches to supporting youth recovery and healing that adapt to shifting definitions, goals, and timelines as well as transitions across various substance use treatment, recovery, and care contexts. Our needs assessment also highlighted the often overlooked but critical role of families and caregivers. By foregrounding youth perspectives and experiences – including engagements with diverse treatment, recovery, and care programs and complex dynamics with caregivers – we identify key priorities and actionable recommendations to reorient policy, practice, and research so that they are more youth- and caregiver-centered. </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":"21 1","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874997/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between the location of Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) providers and heroin-related ambulance attendances.","authors":"Natasha Hall, Bosco Rowland, Rowan P Ogeil, Rick Loos, Ziad Nehme, Dan I Lubman","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00706-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00706-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is an evidence-based intervention that reduces harms associated with heroin use. Ambulance services often serve as the first point of contact for people experiencing these acute harms. OAT access relies on dosing points and prescribers, which may be unevenly distributed geographically. This study examines the geographical distribution of heroin-related ambulance attendances across Victoria and assesses whether the presence, availability, and number of OAT service providers are associated with these harms.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We merged 2023/24 Victorian heroin-related ambulance attendance from the National Ambulance Surveillance System with Victorian OAT service availability data from a statewide helpline. Three negative binomial regression models tested associations between OAT availability and heroin-related ambulance attendances at the local government area (LGA) level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen LGAs had higher than average, population-adjusted, heroin-related ambulance attendances. In Model 2, LGAs with more pharmacies offering OAT vacancies than those without had a 50% lower risk of heroin-related harms (IRR = 0.52, p = 0.014). Model 3 found that every 10% increase in the proportion of OAT doctors with current availability was associated with a 9% reduction in heroin harms (IRR = 0.91, p = 0.04). A similar trend was observed for pharmacists (IRR = 0.90, p = 0.08). All models found heroin harms to be approximately 70% lower in regional versus metropolitan LGAs.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusions: </strong>The availability and geographic distribution of OAT providers-especially those with current capacity-are linked to reduced heroin-related ambulance attendances. Strategic placement and resourcing of OAT services could better align with population need and target hotspots. The metropolitan-regional differences warrant further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12958722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Profiles of care trajectories among patients with substance-related disorders, assessed over nine years considering other patient characteristics and subsequent adverse outcomes.","authors":"Marie-Josée Fleury, Zhirong Cao, Guy Grenier","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00708-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00708-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study is original in that it identified the care trajectories of patients with substance-related disorders (SRDs) over a 9-year period, and associated these trajectories with the patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, quality of care received, and subsequent adverse outcomes (high emergency department use, repeated hospitalizations, suicidal behaviors, death).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Health administrative databases from Quebec, Canada (1996-2022) were used to investigate a cohort of 4075 patients with SRDs. Group-based multi-trajectory modeling was produced to identify profiles of care trajectories from April 1st 2012 to March 31st 2021. Multinomial regressions and survival analysis were conducted to associate profiles to patient characteristics, and adverse outcomes over the following year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five profiles of care trajectories were identified: \"Low overall but increasing care use\" (Profile 1, 30% of sample); \"High, increasing outpatient physical health care use\" (Profile 2, 26%); \"High, increasing outpatient SRD care use\" (Profile 3, 15%); \"High overall care use\" (Profile 4, 14%); and \"Increasing but moderate outpatient care use\" (Profile 5, 15%). Profiles 3 and 4 used substantially more SRD outpatient care. Patients in Profiles 4 and 5 had more complex health conditions and engaged in more varied, sustained care over time, but subsequently experienced the worst adverse outcomes. In contrast, Profile 1 patients had better overall health conditions, followed by Profile 2 (older at SRD onset, less materially deprived) and 3 (more SRD issues), which both exhibited higher continuity of care than Profile 1. Profile 3 had the lowest rate of treatment dropouts.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Use of care and adverse outcomes were strongly linked to the patients' clinical conditions. Tailored interventions may be recommended for each profile: outreach and motivational interventions for Profile 1; applying the chronic care model for Profile 2; high continuity of physician and SRD care for Profile 3; assertive community treatment for Profile 4; and intensive case management for Profile 5. To better address the unmet needs of patients with SRDs, overall outpatient services may be substantially consolidated and improved. Acute care providers and general practitioners may also play a key role in identifying patients with SRDs and referring them to appropriate outpatient services.</p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12952069/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146107336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a Relapse Prevention Program on motivation, relapse, and stress management in correctional settings.","authors":"Abdón Martín-Coca, José Antonio Martín Herrero","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00710-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00710-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders face a high risk of relapse in the absence of structured, motivational, and context-adapted interventions. This study examined changes associated with the implementation of a Relapse Prevention Program designed to enhance motivation for change, anticipate early warning signs of relapse, and strengthen adaptive coping strategies. The intervention integrated Marlatt and Gordon’s Relapse Prevention Model with the COM-B framework (Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation) and Michie’s Behaviour Change Wheel, constituting an original proposal in prison settings. RESULTS: A pre–post quasi-experimental design was conducted with participants from three prison units. Outcome measures included the SOCRATES 8D scale (motivation), the AWARE scale (perceived relapse risk), and the Brief COPE inventory (coping strategies). The findings indicated preliminary improvements in motivation for change, particularly in problem recognition and action steps. Improvements were also observed in adaptive coping strategies, including active coping, positive reframing, and planning. No significant changes were detected in perceived relapse risk. Female participants showed greater improvements in coping strategies and lower post-intervention substance use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the feasibility and clinical applicability of the program in prison settings. The results underscore the importance of integrating emotional regulation components and a gender-responsive perspective into relapse prevention programmes for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders. </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146107404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defining exposure for estimating the global burden of alcohol consumption: plausibility testing of WHO methodology using ASEAN countries as a case study.","authors":"Jürgen Rehm, Gianna Gayle H Amul, Sawitri Assanangkornchai, Surasak Chaiyasong, Daniela Correia, Noran N Hairi, Enjeline Hanafi, Ahmed S Hassan, Kyaw Ko Ko Htet, Wah Yun Low, John Robert C Medina, Jiraluck Nontarak, Sok King Ong, Pol Rovira, Kristiana Siste, Bundit Sornpaisarn, Vanphanom Sychareun, Wen Ting Tong, Polathep Vichitkunakorn, Siyan Yi, Nyi Nyi Zayar, Kevin Shield","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00703-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00703-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Comparative risk assessments (CRAs) provide important information for shaping alcohol control policies. Underlying their CRAs, the WHO uses a standardised methodology to assess and detail the levels of alcohol use for all countries and for various regions. This publication uses a case study approach on the member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to examine potential biases resulting from the methodology employed by the WHO in calculating exposure values for their CRAs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Researchers from each of the 10 ASEAN member states identified large population surveys to improve upon the data collected by the WHO monitoring systems to estimate exposure between 2000 and 2022. From these surveys and aggregate data, key indicators were created for each Member State using WHO standardised methodology. Steps were defined to test for implausible values, particularly for the indicator for average level of alcohol consumption among drinkers. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to identify possible causes of these values. Finally, we compared the results of the implausibility checks with two other regions, the European Union (EU) and the East African Community (EAC), based on data collected by the WHO.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The indicator for average volume of alcohol consumption among drinkers showed implausibly high values for three ASEAN countries, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Further simulations based on assumptions regarding the prevalence of people with heavy or very heavy drinking levels further corroborated a likely bias. An examination of the constituents of the indicator revealed that the bias for Thailand could be due to responses received to survey questions regarding alcohol abstention, in which a high number of respondents claimed no consumption of alcohol over the past year. For the Lao PDR and Viet Nam, the same problem with survey respondent self-reports on alcohol consumption may exist, but we cannot exclude the possibility that answers to the survey question regarding unrecorded alcohol may also have contributed. Investigations of two further regions of the world also showed some implausible values, albeit to a smaller degree for the EU.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Plausibility testing of key monitoring indicators is important and yields important information for improving future monitoring efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12934120/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146094057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parents' perceptions of substance use prevention programs for adolescents in private schools in Chile: a qualitative study.","authors":"Katherine Dinamarca-Aravena, T Rocha-Jimenez, C P Silva-Gallardo, D Palacios-Farías, Alvaro Castillo-Carniglia","doi":"10.1186/s13011-025-00686-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-025-00686-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engaging parents in substance and alcohol use prevention programs could play a key role in delaying the onset of use among adolescents. This research analyzes parents' perceptions of substance use prevention programs (tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and alcohol) implemented in private schools in the northern area of Santiago, Chile. Using a qualitative design, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with parents of adolescents attending four private schools. Our findings reveal limited parental knowledge and understanding of the risks of adolescent substance use and prevention or harm reduction strategies. Most interviewees approach prevention through monitoring and control of their children. They suggest incorporating government prevention strategies into private schools. Our findings underscore the importance of including families in the design of adolescent substance use prevention programs and highlight the urgent need to implement such strategies in private schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":"21 1","pages":"4"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12857128/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146087169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening the standard of care for perinatal substance use disorders: reproductive health provider perspectives on training, integration, and system improvements.","authors":"Leah A Holcomb, Brandon Shealy, Kacey Eichelberger, Kathleen Cartmell, Rachel Mayo","doi":"10.1186/s13011-025-00692-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-025-00692-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Although perinatal substance use disorders (PSUDs) are increasingly prevalent among pregnant and postpartum (PPP) individuals, there is limited understanding of physicians’ perspectives on training needs and gaps in PSUD treatment. To reduce the negative impact of SUD on PPPs, identifying critical areas of intervention related to education and awareness for screening and treating PSUDs is critical. This study explored reproductive healthcare professionals’ (RHPs) perspectives on the necessary training to improve care for PPPs with PSUDs. METHODS: This study is an analysis of a cross-sectional survey of RHPs (n = 117). Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on free-text survey responses to identify RHP perspectives on training needs and strategies for improving care for PPP with SUD. Analyses were performed using Atlas.ti V 24.1. RESULTS: Participants were mostly White (77.8%) and female (93.2%) and included a broad sample of RHPs across multiple disciplines. Three primary themes were generated: (1) improving equitable access to evidence-based training, (2) prioritization of an integrated care network, and (3) addressing stigma in how care is delivered. DISCUSSION: The themes elicited from provider responses offer a framework for understanding opportunities to enhance care for PSUDs. Providers emphasized the need for more equitable access to evidence-based training to better equip clinicians to deliver high-quality care. They also described the importance of strengthening integrated care networks through collaboration among multidisciplinary professionals to improve care coordination and patient experiences. Addressing stigma in care delivery was identified as essential for fostering a more supportive treatment environment. These insights reflect provider perspectives and perceived priorities for system-level improvement rather than evaluated outcomes of specific interventions. Future research should examine the effectiveness of existing training and care models and identify strategies to enhance their accessibility and impact. </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":"21 1","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12857164/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146087114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating if changing the wording of a study invitation letter increased recruitment in a project promoting tobacco cessation in a town with high smoking rates.","authors":"Christina Schell, Alexandra Godinho, John A Cunningham","doi":"10.1186/s13011-026-00704-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13011-026-00704-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Invitation letters can be the first point of contact between research staff and potential participants and a number of modifiable variables have been studied to improve their effectiveness. The aim of this analysis was to determine if lower reading levels and “gain-framed” messages improved recruitment for a RCT that mailed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches for smoking cessation. METHODS: Invitation letters were created which varied in a two-by-two design by reading level and message framing. The letters were randomly mailed to all households in a community selected to receive targeted distribution of NRT patches. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found in the number of participants enrolled. CONCLUSION: Future research investigating factors to improve invitation letters is merited despite current project limitations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04534231. </p>","PeriodicalId":22041,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy","volume":" ","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12918147/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146066857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}